Çamlıca Tower
Küçük Çamlıca TV & Radio Tower, or simply Çamlıca Tower, is a telecommunications tower with observation decks and restaurants on Little Çamlıca Hill in Üsküdar district of Istanbul, Turkey.
The total height of the tower is, of which is a 49-storey reinforced concrete structure with below ground. The height of the tower's steel antenna is. With a total height of above sea level, it carries the title of the highest structure in Istanbul.
The structure was chosen by then prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after the Çamlıca Hill TV & Radio Tower Idea Project, which was opened by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in 2011. Construction started in late 2016 and finished four years later in September 2020. However, the project was set to be completed by the end of 2019. It was inaugurated on May 29, 2021.
After the tower was put into service, other antennas and antenna towers such as Çamlıca TRT Television Tower were either removed or demolished.
Architectural design
The tower is designed by Melike Altınışık Architects firm, founded by Melike Altınışık after she left Zaha Hadid Architects. The building itself is a single piece structure, which was inspired by the Tulip flower; a symbol for the Turks during the Ottoman period. The main axis of the tower includes the roots and feeder stem of the tulip. The viewing terrace and restaurant floors resemble a tulip bud that hasn't bloomed yet.Panoramic elevators rising from the ground floor to the top floor, are located on both sides of the main building. These elevators symbolize the Bosphorus, which both separates and integrates the Asian and European continents.
General contractor
The construction project was awarded to Saridaglar Construction following a public bidding procedure by the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.Saridaglar's scope included:
- Civil Works
- Construction Works
- Architectural Works
- MEP Works
- Landscaping Works.
Structure specifications
The tower is built in concrete on a deep foundation. A steel mast of height for radio and television transmission is mounted atop the high concrete tower. The total height of the tower is with its top standing above main sea level. It is the highest structure in Istanbul.Its cross section has elliptical form with the main axes of, which becomes smaller upwards. Each tower floor is high. Two observation decks are situated on the 33rd and 34th floors at height from sea level. The 39th and 40th floors at height host a restaurant and a cafeteria. Libraries and exhibition halls are situated in the basement floors. A panoramic elevator and a service elevator serves the tower.
Çamlıca Tower is capable of hosting 100 high-quality broadcasting transmitters, without interfering with one another. It is the very first TV and radio tower in the world that can broadcast 100 channels at the same time.
Technical specifications
Source:| Ground level height | 218 m |
| Each floor's height | 4.5 m |
| Tower's total number of floors | 45 above ground + 4 below ground = 49 |
| Reinforced Concrete Structural Height | 203.5 m above ground + 18 m below ground = 221.5 m |
| Steel Antenna Height | 165.5 m + 2.5 m = 168 m |
| Total Tower Height, Above Ground Level | 203.5 m - 2.5 m + 168 m = 369 m |
| Total Tower Height, Above Sea Level | 218 m + 369 m = 587 m |
| Total Structural Height | 369 m + 18 m = 387 m |
| Observation Deck 1 | 148.5 m - 33rd floor |
| Observation Deck 2 | 153 m - 34th floor |
| Restaurant 1 | 175.5 m - 39th floor |
| Restaurant 2 | 180 m - 40th floor |